Coin controlled apparatus



May 23, 1939. LANDRETH 2,159,215

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l //vVENTOR M Z. ZA/Vfl/PE 7' H ATTORA/[Y May 23, 1939.

M. L. LANDRETH COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet 2 sage through the instrument.

Patented May 23, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN CONTROLLEDAPPARATUS Application July 21, 1936, Serial No. 91,636

8 Claims.

This invention relates to coin controlled apparatus, and moreparticularly to telephone coin collectors for use at pay stations.

This invention is particularly adaptable to the type of telephone coincollector disclosed in O. F. Forsberg U. S. Patent 1,043,219, issuedNovemher 5, 1912, and is directed to that portion of the mechanism bymeans of which a line circuit running to the central office is completedwhen a coin or token is deposited in the instrument. In this apparatusdeposit of a coin or token is necessary before the substation can signalthe central oilice and before the central ofiice operator can actuatemechanisms in the instrument for disposing of the coin. Usually thedeposited coin or token is caused to actuate a pivoted lever or triggerprojecting into its path during its pas- The movement of this triggeroperates a mechanism which closes contacts forming a line switch tosignal the central oiiice and to allow an associated electromagnet to becontrolled when desired by a distant telephone operator for collectingor refunding the deposited coins.

An object of this invention is to provide a coin controlled apparatushaving a signalling mechanism of simplified construction and positiveoperation.

In one embodiment of this invention an improved coin indicatingmechanism suitable for use in telephone coin collectors of the typedisclosed in the above mentioned Forsberg patent is provided. To preventfraudulent or faulty operation of the coin deposit signal, acounterweight for restoring the coin trigger after passage of a coin ismounted independently of the trigger and adapted to engage the triggeronly against downward movement thereof. A line circuit for signallingthe central ofiice and operating the coin handling mechanism iscontrolled by means of a commutator segment mounted on the trigger andengaging two line contact springs. Normally the springs are tensionedagainst an insulated portion of the segment, and when the trigger isdepressed by a deposited coin, a conducting portion of the segmentbridges the springs and completes the circuit. A cam of rectangularsection is mounted between the contact springs and connected to thearmature of the electromagnet for releasing the springs from thecommutator segment when the electromagnet is operated to collect orrefund the deposited coins.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with the appendeddrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, ofan electromagnetically operated coin handling mechanism embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the appa-- ratus shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2,taken along the line 3-3.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged pefspective view of a portion of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4taken on a vertical plane through the line 55.

As disclosed in the Forsberg patent a coin or token deposited in theapparatus is delivered under gravity into a container or hopper l0.Mounted adjacent to the hopper is an electromagnet l l for operatingcoin directing mechanism within the hopper. The electromagnet comprisesa pair of coils l2 wound on soft magnetic cores l 3 and connected inseries. An armature i4 is resiliently and pivotally mounted above andbetween the two coils at the end of a permanent magnet 15. Secured tothe armature is an operating lever l6 which is connected to a movablecoin directing vane (not shown) within the hopper through a link ll.When direct current is introduced to the coils by the central officeoperator, the cores are polarized in accordance with the direction ofthe current. They attract the polarized armature, causing it to rotateand swing the operating lever and thus move the coin directing vane in aselective direction to collect or refund the coin deposited in thehopper.

The coin signalling apparatus comprising this invention is mounted ontop of the electromagnet. One element of this mechanism, a lever arm ortrigger I8, is mounted pivotally on a hori- 4O zontal shaft l9 securedto the electromagnet frame. The unsupported end of the trigger projectsthrough a suitable opening 20 in the wall of the hopper into the path ofthe deposited coin, which causes the trigger to rotate on the shaft whenits end is engaged by the passing coin.

A counterweight 2| is mounted pivotally on the horizontal shaft adjacentto and independently of the trigger. A lug or portion 22 projects fromthe counterweight for engaging the top of the trigger portion whichextends beyond the supporting shaft on the side opposite the hopper. Thecounterweight operates to restore the trigger to its normal or elevatedposition and also to retain. the trigger in normal position betweenoperations. The action of the counterweight is exerted against thetrigger in only one direction through engagement between the lugprojecting from the counterweight and the trigger. If the instrument isjolted or jarred, as by a blow on the housing, when the trigger is inits normal position, the relatively heavy mass of the counterweightmaybe caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction on its supportingshaft. However, due to its individual mounting, the counterweight isfree to move independently in this direction and, therefore, will nottransmit its motion to the trigger, thus avoiding a false or purposelyfraudulent operation of thesignalling circuit under these circumstances.

The position of the trigger is employed to control the line circuitdirectly by contact between a commutator segment 23 secured to thetrigger and a pair of line contact springs 24 and 25. The commutatorsegment is fan-shaped and is fixedly joined to the trigger by means of ayoke member 26, causing it to rotate with the trigger on the horizontalshaft. The tensioned contact springs are elongated and supported at oneend with their free ends adjacent to the coin hopper and contacting withopposite faces of the commutator segment. This comprises a line switchin which the segment is rocked between the ends of the springs tocontrol the fiow of current in the circuit in accordance .with theposition of the trigger.

The commutator segment includes an electrical conducting portion 21 andan insulated section 28. The segment body is made of metal having goodelectrical conducting qualities and the insulated portion is made ofrubber or plastic material moulded into recesses in the segment faces orvarnish applied to the faces with a brush. The fiow of current betweenthe free ends of the springs is controlled by the position of theseinsulated and conducting portions of the segment.

The ends of the two contact springs opposite the segment are secured toan extension of the electromagnet frame 29 with screws 30 or othermeans, such as rivets. The springs are insulated from the electromagnetframe extension and from each other with suitable interposed material3l, such as fibre or rubber. At the mounting end, each spring isprovided with a terminal 32 and 33. One terminal 32 is connected to theline circuit (not shown), and the other terminal 33 is connected to thewinding of the electromagnet coils through a cable 34. The line circuitis connected to the other terminal of the coil windings so that theoperation of the electromagnet is dependent upon the position of thecommutator segment. When the trigger is in its elevated or normalposition the free ends of the contact springs engage the insulatedportion of the segment which prevents the passage of current between thesprings and consequently the introduction of current to theelectromagnet coils. posited coin the segment is rocked on itssupporting shaft, causing the uninsulated portions of the segment toengage the spring ends. In this position the current can fiow betweenthe spring ends through the conducting segment to complete the linecircuit to the central ofiice and to the coils which signals the centraloffice operator and also permits the operator to actuate theelectromagnet and refund or collect the deposited coin.

The ends of the tensioned springs engage the When the trigger isdepressed by a de-' segment with substantial pressure in order to insuresatisfactory contact and consistent operation of the line circuit. Thispressure also maintains the trigger in its normal position and preventsirregular rotation of the segment which might originate false signals.It also serves to hold the trigger in a depressed position after a coinhas been deposited until the electromagnet is operated to dispose of thecoin. In some cases a series of coins is deposited for a single call,such as a toll call, and the springs hold the trigger out of the path ofsubsequent coins after it has been deflected by the first coin and untilthe electromagnet is actuated by the telephone operator.

In order to insure the prompt return of the trigger and segment to theirnormal positions, it is desirable to release the pressure between thesprings and segment at the time the electro-magnet is energized. This isaccomplished with a cam member 35 of rectangular section located betweenthe springs near their free ends. This cam is mounted on a vertical pin36 which is bearinged in a bracket 31 on the electromagnet frame and hasa portion bent at approximately a right angle to engage a yoke 38 on theoperating lever of the electromagnet. Normally the cam is located withits sides parallel to and out of engagement with the two line circuitsprings. When the electromagnet is operated to collect or refund thecoin, the yoke on the armature engages the bent portion of the pin androtates the cam approximately 45 which interposes the diagonal of therectangular section of the cam between the springs and spreads andspreads them sufficiently to release the segment, thus permitting thecounterweight to restore the segment and coin trigger arm to theirnormal positions.

When the cam is rotated on its axis the contact spring ends are forcedfrom'the segment, and the current through the springs is consequentlyinterrupted before the motion of the armature and operating lever havebeen completed. To supply current to the coils to complete the armaturemovement a bridging contact spring 39 is provided. This bridging springis secured to the same mounting as the contact springs and extendsparallel and adjacent to one of the contact springs 25 with its free endtensioned against the side of the rectangular cam..

At its mounting end the bridging spring is connected electrically to thelead wire running to the Winding of the electromagnet coil by means of ajumper wire 40 and insulated from the adjacent contact spring. Thespacing between the free end of the bridging spring and the adjacentline contact spring is small and When the cam is rotated the bridgingspring is forced into engagement with the contact spring before thecircuit between the two contact springs and the commutator segmentis'op'ened. This establishes a circuit between the incoming line and thecoils during the period that the two line springs are separated from thesegment and permits the coin disposing movement to be completed.

When the electromagnet is deenergized by the central oflice operator,the armature is restored to its horizontal position which causes theyoke on the operating lever to restore the cam. This breaks theengagement between the bridging spring and the contact spring andpermits the two line springs to contact the insulated portion.

of the commutator segment.

To control the range of movement of the armature, operating lever andassociated apparatus, an arm 4| is secured to the operating lever forengaging a stop 42 mounted on the electromagnet frame. The extending armengages the stop at the termination of its selective movements toconfine the motion of the operating lever within the range desired forthe most satisfactory operation of the apparatus.

By providing for the direct operation of the line circuit by the cointrigger, construction of the required mechanism is simplified, thenumber of component members minimized, and the possibility of faultyoperation correspondingly reduced. The use of an independently mountedcounterweight also contributes to more satisfactory and consistentperformance of the equipment.

Modifications of the specific structure described herein arecontemplated and it is to be understood that the scope of the inventionis limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coin actuated device, a container for receiving a depositedcoin, a shaft external to the container, a member mounted pivotally onthe shaft and having a portion normally extending into the container forengaging the deposited coin to cause rotation of the member on the shaftin one direction, and a counterweight mounted freely on the shaft, saidcounterweight having a portion for engaging the member to rotate themember in the opposite direction.

2. In a coin actuated device, a container for receiving a depositedcoin, a shaft external to the container, a pivotal arm on the shafthaving an end portion normally projecting into the container to causemovement of the arm when a coin is deposited, a coin deposit signalswitch on the shaft having a movable member secured to the arm to causerotation of the switch member in one direction when a coin is deposited,and a counterweight mounted freely on the shaft, said counterweighthaving a portion for engaging the arm and moving the arm and switchmember in the opposite direction to their normal positions.

3. In a coin controlled device, a container for receiving a depositedcoin, a mechanism in the container for directing the coin, a coinsignalling circuit, a pair of contact springs in the circuit, a shaft, acommutator segment pivotally mounted on the shaft for normallycontacting with the springs and controlling the flow of current in thesignalling circuit, an arm projecting from the segment into thecontainer for causing movement of the segment in one direction tocomplete the circuit when a coin is deposited, a counterweight freelymounted on the shaft independently of the arm, said counterweight havinga portion for engaging the arm and moving the arm and segment in theopposite direction, and means responsive to the operation of the coindirecting mechanism for removing the springs from the segment to permitthe counterweight to restore the segment to normal when the coindirecting mechanism is operated.

4. In a coin controlled device, a container for receiving a depositedcoin, a coin directing mechanism in the container, an electromagnet foroperating the coin directing mechanism, an electrical circuit forsupplying current to the electromagnet, a pair of tensioned contactsprings in the circuit, a rotatable segment having insulated andconducting portions positioned between the springs with the insulatedportion normally separating the springs, an arm extending from thesegment into the container for rotating the segment when a coin isdeposited and positioning the conducting portion of the segment betweenthe springs, means for restoring the arm and segment to normal and a cambetween the springs operated by the electromagnet for removing thesprings from the segment when the electromagnet is energized tofacilitate restoration of the arm and segment to normal.

5. In a coin collector, a hopper for receiving the deposited coin, acoin directing mechanism within the hopper, an electromagnet foroperating the coin directing mechanism, an electrical circuit forindicating deposit of the coin, a switch in the circuit comprising apair of contact springs normally tensioned against a commutator segment,and means operated by the electromagnet for releasing the springs fromthe segment.

6. A telephone coin collector comprising a coin hopper, a coin divertingmechanism in the hopper, an electromagnet for operating the mechanism,an electrical circuit for supplying current to the electromagnet, aswitch in the circuit comprising a pair of contact springs normallytensioned against a commutator segment, and a cam between the springsand operated by the electromagnet for removing the springs from thesegment when the electromagnet is energized.

7. In a coin collector, a container for receiving a deposited coin, acoin directing mechanism within the container, an electrical circuit forindicating the coin deposit, a switch in the circuit comprising a pairof contact springs normally tensioned against a commutator segment, andmeans responsive to the coin directing mechanism for releasing thesprings from the segment when the coin directing mechanism is operated.

8. In a coin actuated apparatus, a container for receiving a depositedcoin, a coin directing mechanism in the container, an electromagnet foroperating the coin directing mechanism, an electrical circuit forsupplying current to the electromagnet, a pair of tensioned contactsprings in the circuit, a rotatable segment having insulated andconducting portions positioned between the springs with the insulatedportion normally engaging the springs, an arm extending from the segmentinto the container for rotating the segment when a coin is deposited forpositioning the conducting portion of the segment between the springsand completing the circuit to the electromagnet, means for restoring thearm and segment to normal, a cam between the springs operated by theelectromagnet for spreading and removing the springs from the segmentwhen the electromagnet is energized to facilitate restoration of the armand segment to normal, and means for maintaining the circuit to theelectromagnet during the movement of the cam comprising a bridgingspring interposed between the cam and one of the contact springs, saidbridging spring being normally insulated from the adjacent contactspring and connected electrically to the opposite contact spring andbeing adapted to engage the adjacent spring during the major period ofcam movement for maintaining the circuit to the electromagnet duringsaid period.

MORTON L. LANDRETH.

